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Zappos Blogs: skaters

Right now, you’re probably still basking in the glow of a three-day weekend, but we want to invite you to start thinking about what you’ll be doing next weekend!

Next Friday, May 29, We’re hosting our annual Zappos Rideshop Series event right here in downtown Las Vegas—Fremont St. & Las Vegas Blvd. to be exact.

Join us for an evening of family fun with live music from Unwritten Law, food, some of the industry's top skate brands and even a skateboarding contest featuring some of your favorite pro skateboarders!

To get a preview of what’s coming this Friday, check out this short snippet from last year’s Zappos Rideshop Series:

Over the decades, skateboarding has taken on a life of its own. Once merely a by-product of surfing and the California lifestyle, skateboarding evolved exponentially and its influence stretched from coast tocoast and around the globe. Dare you call it a sport, for many, skateboarding is a way of life. Like a fish out of water, the surfer too found its way to land. Eventually moving away from the salty air of the boardwalk, the skater adapted to whatever environment provided the gnarliest of sessions, from the harsh concrete and asphalt of the skate park to more vertical landscapes.

One of the key aspects of the lifestyle is style. It’s hard to imagine another group of fanatics so obsessed with their aesthetic and dedicated to their brands as skateboarders. If you cut to the core of skateboard style, perhaps the single most important identifier is the footwear. The quickest way to let the world know you are the real deal is the skate shoes on your feet. The scuffs on the toe, the ripped laces, the subtle holes, that’s the stuff hours of dedication are made of! The selection of the right shoe can weigh heavy on a young mind, or seem downright exasperating to the parent of the radical one. From low-profile canvas skate shoes destined for maximum chilling to technical models set to shred, The Zappos Rideshop has you covered.

The evolution of the skate shoe has closely mimicked the timeline of skateboarding progression itself. The early low-profile vulcanized models led way to more advanced cupsole technology. As riding got more technical in the ‘90s, so did the shoes themselves. Skaters quickly realized that stair sets and huge gaps called for more padding, support, and comfort. A bruised heel or two have sidelined even the most hardened of skate veterans. Luckily, the skate shoe companies of the modern era have their craft down to a science. Often designed and tested by professional riders themselves, skate shoes reflect an amalgamation of style, functionality, and performance.

Dedicated brands such as Vans®, DC®, Emerica®, and HUF® have developed skate shoes to be less bulky, more comfortable, and durable than ever before. Traditionally speaking, vulcanized soles are low-profile and provide optimum flex, board feel, and grip for superior control. Although not as durable or impact resistant as their cupsole counterparts, vulcanized technology has progressed to provide the best of both worlds. Cupsole technology is easily described as an outsole that is shaped like a cup around the sole of your foot. Cupsoles were thought to have less feel and flex compared to shoes with vulcanized construction, but many brand such as Nike SB®,etnies® and, adidas® Skateboarding offer slimmed- down versions with great board feel.

From future pros imagining their first video part to casual cruisers intent on the next sesh, there’s nothing like lacing up a fresh pair of skate sneakers right out of the box. Update your current kicks or pass on a new pair to the next generation of shredders. With brands like Supra®, C1RCA®, and Globe®, it’s no wonder that skateboarding shoes have set the standard for cool since the late ‘80s and have pushed the limits ever since!

Dusters embraces the great heritage of skateboarding and early influences of surfing, designing stylish high performance products that look and ride even better than the originals. Carve your way through on a true California style cruiser!

When Ryan Sheckler speaks, his fans listen. That’s why when the 22-year-old pro skater sang the praises of the new etnies prototype shoe he’d been rocking, skaters from all over took to social media to show their unwavering desire to get their hands on the same pair!

This isn’t just some well thought out marketing hype concocted by etnies, mind you. The Marana (named after the street where Sheckler lives) is legit. The real deal. It's been tried and tested by Sheckler himself, and the verdict is: it’s hands down the “longest-lasting shoe he’s ever skated”. With a big name like Ryan Scheckler organically brewing up so much hype over the “most comfortable model he has ever had”, it’s no surprise the Marana became so in demand --to the point where etnies decided to launch the model a whole year early!

Now you can get your hands on the etnies Marana to see what all the well-deserved hype is all about!

See what Ryan Sheckler himself has to say about the etnies Marana in the video below:

Penny founder Ben Mackay received his first plastic skateboard when he was 5-years old. "I got my board second hand and painted it blue with gold pinstripes. I thought it was the baddest thing ever." Nearly 30 years later, he realized it was time to bring that little plastic board back for good.

With 12 years experience in skateboard manufacturing, Mackay and the rest of the Penny crew has a strong appreciation for what it takes to make great quality skateboards. "I've channeled everything I've learned in manufacturing and design to come up with a high performance, long lasting, and mega fun plastic skateboard," says Mackay. From looking at any skateboard you can see whether its fundamentals are balanced. You can see it as each component comes together to make the final product and you can feel it under your feet and in your hands. And it's what sets Penny Skateboards above the rest.

Each Penny Skateboard is built with the highest quality raw materials and fanatical attention to detail. Penny Skateboards are designed and built to look good, perform well, and exceed all your expectations. Penny Skateboards - since forever.

Vibram®, the original outdoor performance rubber company has taken their world-renowned technology and helped create the ultimate skateboarding sole for Ipath shoes.

For you skate enthusiasts out there, the superior grip and durability of the Ipath Vibram® outsoles are second to none! The result is enhanced board control and response; not to mention, just an all-around comfortable shoe for whatever the day brings.

Triple Eight has announced an exciting collaboration with Maloof Skateboarding coming this fall. This upcoming collection of co-branded action sports helmets and protective gear brings together two iconic brands in the world of skateboarding.

The collection, coming out in time for back to school, will introduce three styles of Brainsaver helmets with exclusive Maloof Money Cup artwork.

Maloof Money Cup is one of the world's greatest skateboarding contests, showcasing both amateur and professional skaters.

Make sure to sign up to be notified of new Triple Eight styles so you can be one of the first to get your hands on these special-edition skate helmets as soon as they hit our shelves!